Below are the titles that caught my eye for February,
2006, as listed in the issue of Previews that just
shipped on Wednesday (though I used electronic
editions to make the choices.)
As you can probably tell, I’ve always been more of a
Marvel reader
than DC. Should I look into getting someone else to
do the DC picks?
I’m not really familiar enough with the universe to
pick through the
less known heroes for the good stuff there.
DC Comics
- Batman: War Crimes TPB – This collects the recent
storyline. - Superman #226, Adventures of Superman #649, and
Action Comics #836
– These are all written by Joe Kelly, and form a “This
Is Your Life,
Superman” set of stories. - Supergirl #6 – The solicitation text says that
“Superman has to
stop Supergirl – even if that means the most
unexpected death of all!
Don’t miss this special issue – guest starring Batman
and Wonder
Woman!” DC has also announced that Wonder Woman’s
title will end with
issue #226. Could that be the “most unexpected”
death? - Infinite Crisis #5 – If you’re interested in DC at
all, you’ve
probably heard of this title already. - Rann/Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special – a
tie-in to the other
series. - Green Lantern #9 – Johns and Van Sciver continue
their run, with
GL heading to Gotham. - Showcase Presents: House of Mystery Vol. 1 – 552
pages, black and
white, for $16.99 US. - Wonder Woman #226 – The final issue of the
series.
Marvel Comics
- Ultimate Extinction #2 (of 5) – The final portion
of the Ultimate
Gah Lak Tus story continues. - Ultimate Fantastic Four #27 – Reed decides to go
back in time and
fix the transporter accident that created the FF
before it happens.
It’s part one of the “President Thor” story arc. - Ultimate Spider-Man #90 – This completes the
“Silver Sable” story
arc. - Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk #2 (of 6) – Lindelof
and Yu continue
the series, which seems to be solicited on a
bi-monthly basis. - Ultimate X-Men #67 – Part two of the three part
“Date Night”
story. - Amazing Spider-Man #529 – Tony Stark gives Peter
Parker a new
Spider-Man outfit following “The Other.” And people
complained when
they gave him organic webshooters and boosted his
spider sense… - Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man #5 – Peter
David’s first issues
that stands apart from “The Other.” It’s a one-shot
titled “Weblog”
that follows Spider-Man’s career from the perspective
of a woman who
is convinced he’s stalking her. This could be very
good. - Daredevil #82 – This is the first issue for the
new creative team
of Ed Brubaker (writer) and Michael Lark (penciller).
It’s an
extra-long issue at the regular price. - Fury: Peacemaker #1 (of 6) – Nick Fury gets the
“Origin” treatment
from writer Garth Ennis and penciller Darick
Robertson. - Saga of Squadron Supreme – This seems to be a 48
page summary of
the first 18 issues, likely designed as a way to fill
in the gaps for
those not old enough to have the MAX issues but who
want to follow the
Marvel Knights version. There’s also a preview of
said Marvel Knights
version in this issue. - I (Heart) Marvel line – There are a series of
one-shots out in
February to tie in with Valentine’s Day. - Marvel Romance Redux: But He Said He Loved Me #1
(of 5) – Another
Valentine’s Day tie-in, but not a one-shot. - Fantastic Four #535 – The Thing and the Hulk
continue to duke it
out in Las Vegas. - Marvel Spotlight: Joss Whedon / Michael Lark –
This seems to be a
showcase on the creators rather than the work. I’m
curious, but not
enough to order it. - New Avengers #16 – This is a prologue to the story
arc, rather
than a part of the story arc. How decompressed is
Bendis getting,
anyway? The solicitation text does end on an
interesting note,
though, claiming to show Alpha Flight in their final
battle. - Thing #4 – This series is getting great reviews.
It may be worth
a look. - Astonishing X-Men #13 – Joss Whedon and John
Cassaday are back for
12 more issues. I’m behind in reviewing issues #7-12,
but that’s
because they just aren’t as good as #1-6. They’re
got, but not
fantastic, or even astonishing. - Exiles #77 – The World Tour keeps going.
- Uncanny X-Men #469 and 470 – I’ll be getting these
mainly because
I’ll be picking up the “40 Years of Uncanny X-Men”
DVD-Rom, and
realize that I could easily own every issue of the
title ever
published in one form or another. (I’m already there
for
Fantastic Four, thanks to that DVD.) - X-Men: The End – Men and X-Men #2 (of 6) – This
will be the final
portion of this “The End” title. - Supreme Power: Nighthawk #6 (of 6) – This title is
shaping up to
be considerably better than the Doctor Spectrum title. - The Book of Lost Souls #5 – J. Michael
Straczynski’s ICON title.
I’ll be looking for the TPB form for this one. - Ultimate X-Men Vol 13: Magnetic North TPB – I’ll
be picking this
up, at which point I’ll be able to read the issues of
this title I
have lying around. - House Of M TPB – Collecting the event that has had
an impact on
the X-Men titles. Most mutants in the world lost
their powers, though
most of the X-Men kept theirs, and yet they say that
those who still
have powers seem to be “completely random.” There are
198 mutants
left in the world, which is where the title of that
miniseries came
from. The House of M tie-in series are also being
solicited this
month. - Exiles Vol. 12: World Tour Part 1 – This will get
me caught up on
that series. - Essential Moon Knight Vol. 1 – The first Essential
in a long time
that I’m not picking up. I’ve realized that I’ll just
never find time
to read them all, so I’m going to get pickier when I
order them. - Essential Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man
Vol. 2 – This
one I will pick up.
Online List
Could you provide a link to the online list that you mention?
Re: Online List
Marvel’s list gets e-mailed to me through their press
department, so there’s no link there. For DC, somebody
always posts the list on the rec.arts.comics.dc.universe
newsgroup, so I read that one. I don’t have a URL handy,
and it changes every month. (The Marvel list finds its way
to rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe, too.) Newsarama usually posts the
complete solicitations, too, and you can get the order form
without descriptions from the Diamond
Comics website. Next month, I’ll find links to
include.